Tom Gilbert

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Second Top Murdoch Adviser Leaves News Corp.

Rupert Murdoch lost another top adviser after the summer departure of News Corp. president Peter Chernin, the New York Times reports. Executive vice president Gary Ginsberg, who oversaw the company’s communications, investor relations, marketing and corporate responsibility, and played an…

Former WB Entertainment President David Janollari in Talks to Jump to Cable

David Janollari, the former president of entertainment at The WB, is in talks to join a cable network, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Janollari, most recently an independent producer, is in talks to join MTV as senior VP of West Coast…

AMC’s ‘The Prisoner’ Opens Strong

AMC’s remake of "The Prisoner" brought in 2.2 million viewers on its first night, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The Sunday night debut came close to the 2.3 million who tuned in to last week’s “Mad Men” finale. –Elizabeth Jensen

PETA Unhappy With ‘Sesame Street’ Egg Sponsorship

“Sesame Street” has taken on The American Egg Board as a corporate sponsor and that has People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals unhappy, B&C reports. The corporate spots promote the Egg Board’s Good Egg Project, which PETA says misleads…

Hasbro Puts ‘My Little Pony’ on Development Track for its New Channel with Discovery

Hasbro’s “My Little Pony" has been put into development for a TV series for the new Hasbro-Discovery kids TV channel, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The brand got top pick among potential Hasbro properties after a one-hour special "My Little Pony:…

Tribune Wants Until March 31 to Craft Bankruptcy Plan

Tribune Co. on Friday asked a bankruptcy court judge to give it until March 31 to work out its plan to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings before other parties can weigh in, the Chicago Tribune reports. The move, the paper…

Vivendi Purchase May Portend Sale of NBCU Stake

Vivendi SA won a bidding war for Brazil’s GVT (Holding) SA late last week, which one analyst said is a “clear signal” the company is planning to sell its 20 percent stake in NBC Universal, in order to pay for…

‘Douche’ Writers Get Creative in Skirting Network Language Restrictions

The broadcast networks are getting increasingly creative in their prime-time language in an effort to keep viewers hooked and yet not run afoul of FCC profanity restrictions, the New York Times reports. A favorite word this fall has been “douche,”…

FX Grabs ‘2012’ Rights for 2012

FX apparently saw the potential in the end-days film “2012,” grabbing the TV rights in advance of the movie’s $225 million opening weekend, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The Sony film will air on the basic cable network in 2012. Given…

Longtime N.Y. Times TV Critic John J. O’Connor Dead at 76

John J. O’Connor, a New York Times television critic for more than 25 years, died Friday of lung cancer, the New York Times reports. He was 76, and had been retired since 1997. –Elizabeth Jensen